Feed mechanism for sewing-machines.



N0- 826,497. PATENTED JULY 17, 1906.

J. E. PBPEL. FEED MEGHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 31, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No- 826,497. PATENTED JULY 17, 1906. J. E. FEFEL. FEED MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION IILED AUG. 31, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHBET 2 Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN EDWARD FEFEL, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF NEW YORK.

FEED MECHANISM FOR SEWING-MACHINES- Race -497.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 17, 1 906.

Original application filed June 17, 1905, Serial No. 265 ,637. Divided and this application filed August 31, 1906. Serial No. 276,539.

To all whom it may concern;-

Be it known that I, JOHN EDWARDFEFEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feed Mechanism for Sewing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to feeding mechanism for sewing-machines, the object being to produce a simple and efficient device which shall be adaptable to machines of various types, but particularly adaptable to blindstitch-machines, such as disclosed in an application for patent filed by me June 17, 1905, Serial No. 265,637, in which the same feeding mechanism which is the subject matter of the resent application is shown and described, ut not claimed.

The invention consists in the peculiar combination and arrangement of parts, which will now be described in detail, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a blindstitch sewing-machine embodying my inventlipn.

1 3 is a section taken through the vertical p0?- tion of the arm of the machine. Fig. 4 is a sectional detail of a portion of the feeding mechanism, and Figs. 5 and 6 are further details.

Referring to the drawings by numerals and letters, 1 is abase having a laterally-extending horizontal Work-plate 2 and supporting the upwardly and outwardly extending arm 3. A horizontal driving-shaft 4 is mounted in the arm and carries a pulley 5, two eccentrics 6 and 7, and a wheel or disk 8, the latter having a cam-groove 9 in the face thereof. Eccentric '6 is surrounded by a strap 10, to which is attached an upwardly-extending link '11, connected, by means of a ball-andsocket joint, with the lever 12. Lever 12 is pivoted in the arm 3 at 13 and is provided at its outer end with a downwardly-extending link 14, connecting said lever with a rocking needle-carrier 15, pivoted to the arm 3 at the point indicated at 16. A curved needle 17 is secured to the carrier 15 in any desired manner'.

.21, which lies directly under the curved needle 15, and a final ilat surface 22. A pi'n 23, prqectingdownwardly throughan openingin the work-plate, is engaged by a flat spring 24,

located on the under side of said plate, so that the bridge 18 is held hardpressedagainst the end of screw 25, which extends 'through'a threaded opening in the work-plate and is provided with a jam-nut 26; By mea-nsof said screw and jam-nut and bridge 18 may be raised or locked in any position required. 7

A looper 27, adapted to coact with the curved needle to form stitches, is carried on the end of a lever 28, which is pivoted to the standard 29 at an angle of about forty-five degrees to the plane of the work-plate, the looper 27 pointing downwardly at or about the same angle. The other end of lever 28 is provided with a rounded head 30, which enters the groove 9 in-disk 8, so that rotation of shaft 4, which will rock the needle in an obvious manner, will also cause the looper to rock in an are approximately intersecting the are described by the curve needle.

The presser-foot mechanism consists of a V-shaped lower portion supported by one of more vertical springpressed rods and is adapted to coact with the former to form a ridge in the material to be stitched. 33 is a lifting-cam for raising and lowering rods 32.

I have now described all the essential features of a stitch-making and rid e-formi-ng machine of a particular type an will now proceed to describe in detail the improved work-'feedingmechanism to which the present invention is confined, it being understood that the feeding device is applicable to machines of various types and purposes and that I in owered and spring 24 the no way limit myself to its use in connection with thetype of machine shown.

Resting upon the flat upper surface 22 of the former 18 is 'a feed-roller 40, having a toothed or roughened periphery and mounted on a shaft 41, which is carried in the lower forked ends of two vertical rods 42 and 43, the latter being mounted and suitably guided in the outer end of the arm 3.

It will be observed by reference to Fig. 1 that the bearing-surfaces in the forked ends of rods 42 and 43 are rounded to conform to the peripheral surface of shaft 41. The square corners at a andb are also rounded off, and round retaining-pins c and d pierce the rods below the shaft 41, there being a slight space between said pins and the under surface ofsaid shaft which permits the latter to tilt in its bearings.

A flat spring 44, anchored at 45, has its free end bearing upon a pin 46, projecting laterally from a block 47. This block is located between the'rods 42 and 43 and is forked at both ends, the forks m and n extending toward and embracing loosely the rods 42 and 43, respectively, and resting upon pins 9 g, projecting outwardly from said rods.

will be seen that by this arrangement an even downward pressure is exerted upon both rods simultaneously, and consequently upon both ends of shaft 41, so that the feed-roller will be constantly pressed against the former 18, but will not be prevented from tilting, and adapting itself automatically to uneven thicknesses or other irregularities in the work.

A lifting-cam e, resting upon the upper surface of arm 3, between the rods 42 and 43, is provided with two laterally-extending pins 6 e entering elongated slots in the upper ends of said rods and serves to raise both rods simultaneously in order to lift the feed-roller from the former when it is desired to insert or remove the work. v

' Spring 44, before mentioned, is provided with a tension-regulating device consisting of an adjustable screw 45*, mounted in a lug on the arm 3 and impinging against the upper surface of said spring at a point intermediate itsends. j

Shaft 41 is provided at one end thereof with a socket 50, adapted to receive the rounded end or head 51 of a rod 52, the other end of which is provided with a similar head 53. A counter-shaft 49is located to one side of-shaft 4 and mounted in fixed bearings 54 in thevertical part ofarm 3, is provided with a socket 55 which receives the aforesaid head 53'. -Pi'ns 59 and 57, extending laterally from the heads'of rods 52 and en aging slots 60 and 61', respectively, in the soc iets 50 and 55, complete" the connection, so that power imparted to shaft 49 will be transmitted, to roller 40 whatever operative position said rollermay occu y. Shaft 49 is providedwith a ratchet-whee which is tightly mounted thereon, and an outwardly-extending arm 71, loosely mounted on the same, the latter being provided with an elongated slot 71 near its outer end. A similar arm 73, having a slot 7 3*, projects outwardly from the strap 7* o f eccentric 7, before mentioned. A springpressed pawl 72, carried by arm 71, engages the teeth ofratchet 70.

It is desired that a rotary step-by-step motion be imparted to shaft 49 and that a longer or shorter step-by-step motion maybe had, as desired. I have therefore provided an adjustable connection between the two slotted arms 71 and 73, which consists of ascrew 7 6,

havin an annular shoulder 77 and a reduced threa ed shank 78. There is also athumb-ni1t 79, which serves to bind one of said slotted arms between itself and said shoulder and secure the screw in a predetermined position, the shouldered portion of the screw working loosely in the elongated slot of the other arm.

Obviously by shifting the position of the screw the desired degree 0 throw may be attained. 80 represents a spring-detent engaging the teeth of ratchet-wheel 75 to prevent reverse movement of the shaft 49.

It should be noted that m feeding mechanism is exceedingl flexib e, the toothed roller adapting itsel to all irregularities inthe work without losing its grip upon the.

same. The work is advanced positively and accurately at the proper stage of the operation and is gripped on the wrong side,

which permits a deep bite in the goods without leaving unsightly marks on the ri ht side.

Anadjustment of the former 18 re ative to the needle does not call for a separate adjustment of the feed-roller, since the roller is spring-pressed against the former and will follow it to whatever position it may be re-- moved.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. In a sewing-machine the combination of a needle and its actuating mechanism, a shaftmounted in fixed bearings and having a socketed end, means for rotatin said shaft, a second shaft carr 'ng a feed-r0 ler and also having a sockete end and two movable spring-pressed supports, one for each end of the latter shaft, the said supports being adapted to yield separately and independently of each other, and an intermediate member having rounded ends engaging said sockets and adapted to transmit motion from one shaft to the other.

2. In a sewing-machine the combination of a work-plate a feed-roller, two separatelymovable supports for said feed-roller, a block bridging said supports and supported thereby a spring bearing upon said block and means for rotating sai feed-roller.

3. In a sewing-machine the combination of a work-plate, two separately-movable vertical rods, a feed-roller loosely mounted in thelower ends thereof, means for rotating said roller, a spring normally pressing said rods toward said Work-plate, and a cam lying be tween the upper ends of said rods and having projections engaging elongated slots in said 5 rods. Witnesses:

In testimony whereof I have signed my J. JOSEPH, name to this specification, in the presence of FRANK D. NAOKE.

two subscribing Witnesses, this 29th day of August, 1905.

JOHN EDWARD FEFEL. 

